Marlins hit rocky bottom, swept by Colorado Rockies

Early Wednesday morning before the final game in a disappointing Marlins vs. Rockies series, starting pitcher Cal Quantrill was focused at his locker — shuffling, playing cards in the clubhouse.

Quantrill has had a mixed season with the Marlins so far — he’s been a steady, although unpredictable, presence. Through 11 starts, the right-handed pitcher owned a 3–4 record with a 4.31 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.

“Cal is a good pitcher, you know, Cal is going to go out there and compete,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said before Wednesday’s game, which the Marlins ended up losing 3-2 to Colorado. “He’s gonna throw the ball, and we just got to make plays behind him. He has been on a good run, and he’s been keeping us in each one of his games effectively, especially in the month of May.”

And it’s true – Quantrill did have a good May, and it seemed he was turning a corner. Starting in five games, he allowed eight runs and claimed 22 strikeouts, helping bring the Marlins three victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels.

But things got off to a rocky start for the team Wednesday afternoon. Quantrill’s first inning saw two hits — one double and one RBI triple – sneak past the Marlins’ defense.

On offense early, things weren’t looking much better. A quick two first innings at bat for the Marlins saw only two batters get on base: Connor Norby on a single and Dane Myers on a walk (where he then promptly got out after attempting to steal second).

The same story continued. Quick innings with Miami at bat, sloppy fielding allowing Colorado runners on base.

A highlight for Quantrill and the defense happened midway through the fifth inning, Colorado up one. On a fly from the Rockies’ Keston Hiura, Quantrill slid towards the first base line, catching the ball on his back and slamming feet-first into the visitors’ dugout.

“It was a pretty good play,” Quantrill said smugly after the game. “But, I don’t think I’m gonna leave my mound for the next couple of games.”

By the end of the fifth inning when Quantrill was substituted out for Janson Junk, he’d had a decent performance, although he had allowed another run which brought the score to 2-0.

But Quantrill’s performance for the Marlins is not the only factor to blame for Wednesday’s defeat and the Marlins getting swept by the worst performing team in the majors this season with a record of 12-50.

The Marlins’ offense was lacking all game.

With only two hits in the first six innings, it looked like the final game in this lackluster series could be a full-on shutout.

The seventh inning, however, brought new energy for the Marlins. They picked up the pace, subbing in Jesús Sánchez and Liam Hicks as pinch hitters. With hits from Norby, Eric Wagaman, Heriberto Hernandez, Sánchez and Hicks, the Marlins clawed their way back into the game 3-2.

“That was a chance to take some shots with some of the guys that we had coming off the bench,” McCullough said.

It wasn’t enough.

Just over two and a half hours after first pitch, the Marlins were swept in their series to the Rockies. Now, they look ahead to a 9-game stretch on the road versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals. To get some wins back on their side, something’s gotta give.

“I think we’ll just regroup from this, and we have to go on, right?” McCullough said. “This league is unrelenting, and [we’ll] get back at it after the off-day tomorrow in Tampa, and [we will] get back to winning some ball games.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ Hernandez appeared in his fourth Major League game Wednesday afternoon, earning his first RBI on a single to bring Norby home. He said he plans on signing the ball and giving it to his parents to keep.

▪ Pérez is still on schedule to make his first start back with the team on this road trip following Tommy John surgery and his final rehab start with Jacksonville Tuesday night.

▪ Attendance for the Marlins versus Rockies series was unprecedentedly low. Wednesday’s paid attendance was 6,261 while Monday’s paid attendance was announced at 5,894 and Tuesday evening’s game was 7,583.

▪ The series versus the Rockies was the first time since April that the Marlins had been swept 0-3. The last time was to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the defending World Series Champions, at home.